NCHSAA Golden Whistle Awards

Recipients Named For Seventh Annual Golden Whistle Merit Awards

CHAPEL HILL –Four outstanding individuals from the world of high school officiating will be honored with an award for lifetime achievement.

Ted Jackson of Raleigh, Ron Buckner of Fort Mill, SC, Tim Brayboy of Cary and Vierl Banks of Winston-Salem are the recipients of the seventh annual Golden Whistle Merit Award, created in a partnership among the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), the North Carolina Coaches Association (NCCA) and the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association (NCADA).

Criteria for the award include demonstrating leadership, performance, service and training for the betterment of officiating, possessing officiating abilities emulated by fellow officials, being regarded as a person of integrity and character, and a minimum of 10 years of experience as an active official.

They will be presented their awards at the NCHSAA Annual Meeting on May 2 at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

This year’s recipients of the Golden Whistle Merit Award include:

Ted Jackson: Jackson began officiating in 1961 and retired in 1995, having officiated football, baseball and basketball for the NCHSAA, the NCAA, and in junior college. But football is where he made his mark. A recipient of the Triangle Officials Association Distinguished Service Award, he has devoted himself as a clinic leader for both high school and college officials for over 25 years. Jackson officiated four NCHSAA state championship games and was an Atlantic Coast Conference official for 28 years. He also worked more than 15 bowl games, the Army-Navy Game, has been the replay official for ACC Championship games and also the 2009 BCS National Championship Game replay official.

Jackson has received the ACC Commissioner’s Award and served as the President of the ACC Football Officials Association.

Ron Buckner: Buckner has had a distinguished officiating career in both football and basketball. His career began in 1970 and his work on various committees and leadership resulted in him becoming president of the Western North Carolina Officials Association. He was selected to work the 1977 NCHSAA East/West All-Star Game, the 1978 Shrine Bowl, and both the 1985 and ‘90 NCHSAA football state championship games.

Buckner’s collegiate career includes stints in the ACC and the Southern Conference from 1979-2002. He served as rules chief and referee chief and was selected to work the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship Game, the NCAA Division III National Championship Game, and earned an NCHSAA Distinguished Service Award both in 1998. He remains active as an observer and evaluator at the high school and college level.

Tim Brayboy: Brayboy gave over 40 years of service as a game official, clinic leader and mentor for officials. He has contributed to the positive growth of countless officials, and his efforts have enabled him to be enshrined in the Halls of Fame of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, the North Carolina Athletic Directors, and the NCHSAA.

Brayboy has worked six high school football state championship assignments and eight basketball state championships. In addition, he has officiated the North Carolina Coaches’ Association East/West All-Star games in both football and basketball, and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. He worked 14 years as an on-field official in the Southern Conference. He has worked diligently to afford opportunities for young officials from diverse backgrounds.

Vierl Banks: The career for Banks ran from 1966-2006 in high school and college. Having been selected to work NCHSAA state championships and East/West All-Star assignments, he also worked as an official on the rosters of the CIAA, ACC, Southern Conference, MEAC and the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He has served as a coordinator of officials, assistant coordinator of officials, and is widely respected for his observations and evaluations of basketball officials at both the high school and college level.

Currently he serves the Triad Basketball Association, the CIAA and the South Atlantic Conference as a neutral observer. He has worked the USA Olympic Tryouts and was inducted into the CIAA Officials Hall of Fame in 2010.

“These four are truly representative of excellence and leadership in officiating,” said Mark Dreibelbis, supervisor of officials for the NCHSAA. “We are extremely proud to honor these individuals who have demonstrated sacrifice and commitment.”